The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-11
TALK ABOUT MEN.
Persons of Prominence, Regarding Whom In
teresting Things Are Heard.

! substantial and possessed of an imperturbablity
that preserves to him clear head under the
most exciting circumstances. 1t is not probable
| that there is another man in the State who could
better fill the difficult position to which he has
been called meet with better address and
skill the turbulent exigencies of the time To
| show the mettle Of which Colonel Robertson is
made, it is said of him that he was called
| upon to carry dispatches during the war
at hot fight at Tolopotomy Creek Va.
Three officers, in attempting to do the service,
had been shot down. He was told this by the
general, who dwelt upon the danger. thus Civ
ing MIN an opportunity to decline. The reply
| was characteristic of this quiet earnest and
brave man. ''Of course I'll CO." was his
! swer; that's what I'm here for" He had been
previously wounded at Spottsylvania, and in this
! latter service at Tolopotomv creek most i'm
portant one, he succeeded, though shot through
the abdomen from the front of the right hip to
| the back OF the left. For his services he re-
ceived two brevet commissions-one, that of
captain. from the President of the United
States and the other that of colonel from the
Governor of the State of New York. This is
| the man upon whom the Knights of the Golden
| Circus, headed by Green Smith, are preparing
to train their wooden guns. beginning to day.
81, for one, know that Senator Voorhees, at the
beginning of the war, was given irst-cass op-
|
the side Of the Union" said Col J. A. Bridgland
| to Journal reporter II knew Mr. VOORHEES,
we'll before the war. He is a genial companion
and fast friend. But he is never great in great
affairs. He is man of impulse, frequently
moved to do good things, aud quite as often
moved to do things he should not debut never
a mean thing The Second Indiana Cavalry, of
which was colonel. then had their camp on
what was the Jones farm, about four miles north
| OF the city. The bows had received drilling on
| foot for three weeks, and had received their
| horses about week before two visitors came
| out to camp in a carriage to me. One was
| United States Senator Pueh of Cincinnati, and
| the other MIR. Voorhees,. They were both old
| friends of mine, and dress parade was just
| coming on, they came out from my tent and sat
| on the fence to see the evolutions Of the green
| cavalrymen. After the parade was over, / called
| the men together on foot and told them that two
| distinguished gentlemen would address them. Mr.
| voorhees, was reluctant to speak but |
insisted and at length he consented Mr. Pueh
made short and pretty speech that meant lit
tie or nothing. Now, said l, Mr.. Voorhees,,
| make speech for your country. Be q man; all
you hold dear is here-wife, children and friends
| He started in as if ne really intended to say
| something, but after the first half dozen SEN
| fences he seemed to lose fire and / saw his
speech did not please the boys. His concluding
| words were something like this: Soldiers, go to
tho front and fight for what you think is right.
| Fight like gentlemen, and remember that while
| you are fighting for your government the men
| who will oppose you In battle fighting for
| what they believe to be their government
| After the speeches were over, said to Mr.
Voorhees,. Why don't you come into the army2
| Governor Morton will give you colonelcv. l
| will speak to him about it I asked him if he
| would accept a colonecy. He said he would an
swer when the offer was made Well know
positively that Governor Morton soon after that
| did tender him commission colonel. He hes
itated to accept, but believe he would have taken
it had it not been that he consulted with friends
who like himself. were opposed to the war; who
persuaded him to refuse l know Governor Nor
ton gave him this opportunity to serve his coun-
| try. Afterward Mr.. Voorhees, at Greencastle,
made a bitter anti-war speech, which came near
| resulting in his being lynched 1t was only
| Governor Morton's personal effort that saved
him. for the war feeling ran very high. When
| Senator Voorhees, voted for John Morton for col
| lector at San Francisco he was remembering
past favors from the hands of his father, Oliver
p. Morton. and Mr.. Voorhees, can never be
charged with being an ungrateful man."
Maj. Levi Ferguson. of Martinsville, Morgan
county, is at the Denison, to remain until af-
| fairs quiet down somewhat. He is an earnest
and Woodworking Republican for the sake of
| the cause, and not for Office. 1t is only in
later years that he has been resident of Mar
tinsville He went there from Pike county,
| that stronghold of Democracy where for fifteen
| years he was thorn in the side of the domino mt
| party There time when there were but
about half dozen Republicans in the county
| who we're not afraid to make public speeches
| in campaign years, and the Major was
| one of them. When the war broke out
he but nineteen years of age, yet a ready
speaker. and debater who was feared by many
of the old wheel horses of the Democratic party.
Pike county was hot bed for rebels and men
| of Mr. Ferguson's fervor and temperament were
| liable to be lyDched at any time. He often tells
| OF the many narrow escapes he had, and laughs
| over them now. There was one township in
| the county in which it was boosted that no
| Black Republican could make speech This
| was during the campaign of 1863 Mr.. Fergu-
son heard of the threat and had an appointment
made at school house in the heart of a rebel
| settlement. HIS friends pleaded with him not to
60, but he did not heed them. On the evening
| of his engagement he borrowed two large revolv-
ers. and, being unable to get a companion, went
alone to the school house. When he reached the
| door he found the school house packed with q
determined set OF men, He walked up the aisle of
| the room amid Kisses and groans He laid off
| his overcoat, and, drawing the two revolvers out
of his pockets, laid them on the table before
| him. saying: 81 came here to make a speech
AS long AS I am not disturbed / will use
my mouth, but if any man attempts
disturbance I will use nv companions here.
Quiet reigned. and he made what he now ad-
mits to have been the best speech of his life
He was but twenty years of age and was a can
didate for some Office. His age, his speech and
his cool display of grit the audience
| tnat ne got the majority OF votes IN the town.
ship which had never before cast but two Re-
publican votes Mr. Ferguson served
through the war and attained the rank of
colonel Later he filled several Offices in
Pike county. and was the only Republican who
was ever elected. He made one run for Con-
gress against James D. Williams Ex-Governor
and came near beating the old gentleman. He
is an unassuming gentleman, but when he gets
stirred up is terror. He has served several
terms as county attorney for Morgan county,
and has been favorably spoken of as a candid ate
| for Congress. He is Disguised at the legislative
muddle and favors throwing Green Smith out
by main force, as about the only treatment that
he deserves